The Heart of the Pacific Islands: Honoring Our Red Cross Volunteers

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Following flooding caused by a Kona low storm, volunteers on O'ahu went door to door in affected communities to identify homes and residents needing assistance. (Photo by Mimi Teller/American Red Cross)

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A Red Cross volunteer teaches Hands-Only CPR to students in the Guam Community College Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.

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Red Cross volunteers in American Samoa provide immediate support to a local family affected by disaster. Across the territory, volunteers respond 24/7 to home fires and other small, local disasters that force people from their homes.

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Northern Mariana Islands volunteers provide support to military personnel, their families and veterans. Throughout the Pacific Islands region, volunteers deliver care and connection through the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program.

Mimi Teller/American Red Cross

Across the Pacific Islands, the American Red Cross is powered by people who care deeply for their neighbors and their communities. As we mark Volunteer Recognition Month from April 19 through 25, we pause with full hearts to thank the nearly 1,900 volunteers who make this mission possible every single day.

Over the past month, our islands faced repeated disasters that tested communities across the region. Typhoon Sinlaku devastated the Northern Mariana Islands, leaving widespread damage and fear in its wake. Guam was also significantly affected, though spared the storm’s most extreme impacts. In Hawai‘i, Kona lows brought flooding, power outages and long, uncertain nights. Red Cross volunteers showed up for every challenge, even as their own homes and communities were threatened and affected.

Volunteers opened and supported shelters, checked on families, offered reassurance and helped people take the next step forward. In moments when the weather was relentless, volunteers were steady, calm and present. For many families, seeing a familiar Red Cross vest brought comfort and hope, and a reminder that they were not facing the storm alone.

“Time and time again, Red Cross Volunters roll up their sleeves and jump into action to meet the needs of the moment,” said Molly Schmidt, American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region chief executive officer. “They don't do it for recognition; they do it because serving their community is part of who they are.”

That same commitment continues long after the skies clear. Under calmer conditions, volunteers teach emergency preparedness to adults, youth and elementary school students. They provide life-saving training year round. They support service members, veterans and their families. They respond to home fires and local emergencies at all hours, often with little notice. They serve not for recognition, but because their islands matter deeply to them.

This spirit was reflected during our recent celebration of the Pacific Islands Region Volunteer Heroes Awards event. Their stories inspired us, but they also represent something larger. They reflect the compassion, generosity and quiet strength shared by every Red Cross volunteer across the Pacific Islands, across Hawai’i to Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

We invite you to view photos from the 2026 Volunteer Heroes Awards event and learn more about the volunteers we were proud to honor.

To all who give their time, their skills and their hearts, thank you. You make our islands safer, stronger and more connected. We are deeply grateful for you. Mahalo nui loa, Si Yu’os ma’åse’ dangkulu, Fa’afetai tele lava

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

April 19, 2026